For the past 17 years, Terence Crawford has been putting on a masterclass across four different weight classes. From lightweight to super welterweight, he’s not just moving up the ranks—he’s dominating them. And through it all, one thing has stayed the same: his slick southpaw stance. Now, as Bud Crawford eyes a potential clash with Canelo Álvarez in September—assuming Canelo gets past William Scull to become unified super middleweight champ—people aren’t betting on size. They’re betting on skill. And when it comes to Terence Crawford, that’s never in short supply.
Sure, the build-up to this fight has been met with mixed reactions. But will that ever stop the blockbuster bout from happening? Not really. Even Chris Eubank Sr. jumped into the conversation, saying that if Canelo wants a real test, he should fight his son, not the smaller Crawford. But with Canelo’s four-fight deal under His Excellency Turki Alalshikh keeping him busy, that matchup feels more fantasy than future—for now. Still, Terence Crawford’s smooth style speaks for itself. Just ask Shannon Sharpe. The Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator nearly got a taste of “Bud” firsthand in a playful face-off recently. How?
Just a few hours ago, ClockednLoaded dropped a hilarious clip on Instagram that’s already making the rounds. The caption? “Terence let the intrusive thoughts win .” And honestly, they weren’t lying. The video shows Terence Crawford and Shannon Sharpe having a casual moment in the ring—until things took a playful (but wild) turn.
It kicked off with Sharpe pointing at Crawford’s hands, saying, “You see, your right hand is bigger than your left. Just look at it.” Crawford, cool as ever, replied, “Nah, my left is bigger.” But before Shannon could blink, Crawford whipped his right hand toward Sharpe’s face in a mock punch that had everyone flinching. He didn’t actually hit him, of course—but if he had, Sharpe’s glasses (and maybe his left eye) would’ve been in serious trouble.
Shannon, clearly caught off guard, was just standing there trying to process what even happened. That’s when Terence Crawford added the punchline with a grin: “Do you see how you got hit?” Classic Bud—smooth, fast, and a little scary… even when he’s just joking. And because of those factors, David Benavidez knew how the September bout could turn out.
Terence Crawford vs. the odds
So, last month on Jake Paul’s podcast, David Benavidez laid it all out: his frustrations, his thoughts on what’s next, and how he really feels about the whole Canelo-Crawford situation. So when Jake Paul hit him with the obvious question—“Who do you think wins that fight, though?”—David Benavidez gave his honest take.
August 2, 2024, Los Angeles, California, USA: Former three weight world champion and pound for pound stalwart Terence ÃâËBudÃââ Crawford 40-0 steps on the scale to weigh in for his bout with WBA Super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov Los Angeles USA – ZUMAd151 20240802_znp_d151_024 Copyright: xAdamxDelGiudicex
“To be honest with you, it’s like I wouldn’t be surprised if Crawford wins,” he said, showing some real respect for the Omaha star. But he also kept it balanced, adding, But I wouldn’t be surprised if he loses either.” He praised Terence Crawford’s boxing IQ and called him a “tremendous fighter.” However, he also didn’t forget to point out the massive weight difference between the two.
The Monster Bandera Roja made it clear— Terence Crawford may have skills, but jumping up two more weight classes? That’s a whole different beast. He even referenced Bud’s last win against Israel Madrimov. How? “He didn’t really look as strong at 154. So, he’s still going to go up two weight classes, 160 and 168.” And that, to the 28-year-old, says a lot.
So with all that said—do you think David Benavidez raised some valid points? And more importantly, can Terence Crawford rise to the challenge and deliver the kind of performance his fans are hoping for? Or will this be the moment the size finally catches up with the skill?
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